China Guardian's Spring-Greeting Auction Sales Reach USD5.7 million

China Guardian's Spring-Greeting Auction Sales Reach USD5.7 million BEIJING, Jan. 17 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- China Guardian's Spring-Greeting Auction of Classical, Modern and Contemporary Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy concluded with a total hammer price of RMB47.462 million (USD 5.734 million) on January 15, 2005. Over 82.2% of the 501 pieces of auctioned works had been sold, with three items sold for more than RMB1,000,000 (USD120,824). While the bidding process was heated during the auction, buyers showed increasing interest in the artistic value of the auctioned items. More and more buyers focused their attention on artistic style and the historic background of the works instead of simply pursuing items created by renowned masters. As a result, some pieces were extremely well received, including Wu Zheng's ''Room of Fairies and Fragrance,'' sold for RMB231,000 (USD27,831), Huang Junbi's ''Memory of Travel to E Mei Mountain'' sold for RMB242,000 (USD29,157), Shu Zhai's ''White Egret'' sold for RMB330,000 (USD39,759), Mei Qing's ''Stone Room'' sold for RMB319,000 (USD38,433), Ma Jin's ''Herding in Autumn'' sold for RMB308,000 (USD37,108), Liu Yonglang's ''Cow Herding on Horse'' sold for RMB330,000 (USD39,759) and Chen Shizeng's ''Mountain and River'' also sold for RMB330,000 (USD39,759). In addition, works of some of the greatest masters such as Huang Binhong, Wu Changshuo, Qi Baishi and Pan Tianshou continued to increase in value. Of these, Pan Tianshou's "As Longevous as the Pine Tree and Stone'' created in 1958 for the 41st anniversary of the Russian Revolution, was auctioned at RMB2.2 million (USD265,060), the highest of the auction. Huang Binhong's ''Leisure Time in a Pavilion'' and Wu Changshuo's ''Four Partitions Decorated with Flowers'' were also sold for RMB1.089 million (USD131,120)and RMB1.012 million (USD121,928) respectively. Qi Baishi's ''Lotus and Mandarin Ducks'' was sold for RMB748,000 (USD90,120). About China Guardian International Auction Company Limited Established in May 1993, China Guardian International Auction Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive national auction company ratified by the Ministry of Culture and the former State Council Economic and Trade Office, and is also registered at the State Administration of Industry and Commerce. China Guardian has a standing cultural relics and artwork auction catalogue covering traditional Chinese calligraphy and paintings, oil paintings and sculptures, porcelain and jade works of art, classical furniture, rare ancient Chinese books, pearls and marbles, postal articles and coins. China Guardian also auctions property rights, real estate, intellectual rights, confiscated and mortgaged articles as well as abandoned properties. The company is fast becoming a large auction enterprise that possesses the most complete assortment and variety of auctioned goods in China. For more information, please contact: Liu Wan of China Guardian Tel: +86-10-6518-2315 Fax: +86-10-6518-3915 Email: liuwan@cguardian.com Web: http://www.cguardian.com/ Source: China Guardian International Auction Company Limited CONTACT: Liu Wan of China Guardian, +86-10-6518-2315, or fax +86-10-6518-3915, or liuwan@cguardian.com Web site: http://www.cguardian.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment